Methodology

To rank the states, we devised a system of awarding points based on how each state fared according to each of the 22 factors in the report. We did this because the scales on which to evaluate states vary depending on the factor: Some factors rank states on either a “yes” or “no” scale, while others can assign rankings from 1 to 51—including the District of Columbia. For each factor, therefore, the best performing state(s) receive 0 points and the worse-performing states receive more points, with the worst-performing state(s) receiving 10 points.

States were then ranked within each category by calculating the average point values for the number of factors for which they were evaluated. When data for a factor was not available for certain states, that factor was omitted from the state average, so as to neither help nor hurt the state’s ranking.

Overall state rankings were determined by averaging the average point values for each of the three categories. This means that each factor was weighted equally with respect to how much it counted in its category, and that no single category counted more than the other. This also means that for the categories containing more factors, such as accessibility of the ballot, each factor has less overall influence on the overall rankings. People can and should contend that some factors are more important than others, but we felt this method was the clearest and fairest way.

This report credits all laws that have been passed, not just those that have been implemented. It uses the most up-to-date public sources to evaluate states as accurately as possible. It is always possible that certain data points may need to be updated as more information becomes available. The authors welcome submissions to update a state’s performance in any factor included in this report.

Accessibility of the ballot factors:

State has passed a law allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote

0 points

State has not passed a pre-registration law, or has set the threshold for pre-registration after age 17

10 points

Availability of online registration:

Law that allows for full online registration

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

State has passed a law allowing for full online registration

0 points

State has not passed an online registration law, or law only allows for limited online registration

10 points

Portable registration:

Laws that allow voters to cast a ballot following a change of address with relative ease

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

State law voter registration system follows the voter so that a voter can easily vote after a change of address OR State law allows voters to change their addresses at the point of voting, such as at the ballot box

0 points

State law voter registration system does not follow the voter OR state law does not allow voters to change their addresses at the point of voting

10 points

Availability of in-person early voting:

Laws that allow for registered voters to cast a ballot at a polling place before Election Day

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

State has a vote-by-mail system

0 points

State has passed a law allowing for in-person early voting, including requiring polling locations to provide opportunities to vote on the weekend

0 points

State has passed a law allowing for in-person early voting, but does not require polling locations to provide opportunities to vote on the weekend

5 points

State has not passed a law allowing for in-person early voting

10 points

Availability of no-fault absentee voting:

Law that allows voters to request an absentee ballot without having to provide a qualified excuse

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

State has passed a law allowing for no-fault absentee voting, or has a vote-by-mail system

0 points

State has not passed a no-fault absentee voting law

10 points

Voter identification laws:

Laws that require registered voters to show a form of identification prior to casting a ballot

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

State does not require a document to vote

0 points

State law requires poll workers to request identification, but a photo ID is not required

2.5 points

State law requires poll workers to request a photo ID

5 points

State law requires voters to show any identification—photo or nonphoto—to poll workers prior to casting a ballot

10 points

Voting wait times:

Where a state ranks nationally based on the average of wait times for voters during the 2008 and 2012 elections

State's Performance

Points added to score

For state ranked 1

0 points

Among states ranked 2–5

1 points

Among states ranked 6-10

2 points

Among states ranked 11-15

3 points

Among states ranked 16-20

4 points

Among states ranked 21-25

5 points

Among states ranked 26-30

6 points

Among states ranked 31-35

7 points

Among states ranked 36-40

8 points

Among states ranked 41-45

9 points

Among states ranked 46-51

10 points

Provisional ballots cast:

Where a state nationally ranks in terms of the percentage of provisional ballots cast out of an average of total ballots cast during the 2008 and 2012 elections

State's Performance

Points added to score

State is exempted from issuing provisional ballots under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 because it offers Election Day registration

0 points

For state ranked 1

0 points

Among states ranked 2–5

1 points

Among states ranked 6-10

2 points

Among states ranked 11-15

3 points

Among states ranked 16-20

4 points

Among states ranked 21-25

5 points

Among states ranked 26-30

6 points

Among states ranked 31-35

7 points

Among states ranked 36-40

8 points

Among states ranked 41-45

9 points

Among states ranked 46-51

10 points

Participation in the Interstate Crosscheck system:

If a state participates in the Interstate Crosscheck database

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

State does not participate in the Interstate Crosscheck System

0 points

State does participate in the Interstate Crosscheck System

10 points

Motor Voter implementation performance:

Where a state ranks nationally based on the ratio of Department of Motor Vehicles, or DMV, voter registration applications to DMV transactions

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

State is in "high performing" tier

0 points

State is in "middle performing" tier

5 points

State is in "low performing" tier

10 points

Representation in state government factors:

Felon disenfranchisement:

Laws that restore voting rights to ex-felons

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

State law has no restrictions on voting or restrictions in prison only

0 points

State law has restrictions on voting during parole, or parole and probation

5 points

State law has restrictions on voting during parole, parole and probation, or parole, probation, and post-sentence.

10 points

Ballot initiatives and referendums:

Laws that allows citizens through a petition process to introduce a law or Constitutional amendment to the voters for approval or rejection, or to demand a popular vote on a new law passed by the legislature

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

State has passed laws allowing for statute initiatives, popular referendums, and Constitutional amendment initiatives

0 points

State has not passed a law allowing for statute initiatives

3.33 points

State has not passed a law allowing for popular referendums

3.33 points

State has not passed a law allowing for Constitutional amendment initiatives

3.33 points

Congressional district distortion:

Where a state ranks nationally based on the difference between the number of seats parties should have based on vote totals in the 2014 U.S. House of Representatives election, and the number of seats it actually holds

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

Tier 1: Distorted by 12.5 percent or less

0 points

Tier 2: Distorted by more than 12.5 percent and up to 25 percent

5 points

Tier 3: Distorted by more than 25 percent

10 points

State legislative district distortion:

Where a state ranks nationally based on the difference between the number of seats parties should have based on vote totals in the most recent state House of Representatives election, and the number of seats the parties actually hold.

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

Tier 1: Distorted by less than 5 percent

0 points

Tier 2: Distorted by 5 percent to less than 10 percent

5 points

Tier 3: Distorted by 10 percent or more

10 points

Female elected representation:

Where a state ranks nationally based on the ratio of the percentage of elected officials that is women and the percentage of the population that is women

State's Performance

Points added to score

Ratio of representation is equal to or greater than 1

0 points

For state ranked 1

0 points

Among states ranked 2–5

1 points

Among states ranked 6-10

2 points

Among states ranked 11-15

3 points

Among states ranked 16-20

4 points

Among states ranked 21-25

5 points

Among states ranked 26-30

6 points

Among states ranked 31-35

7 points

Among states ranked 36-40

8 points

Among states ranked 41-45

9 points

Among states ranked 46-51

10 points

Communities of color elected representation:

Where a state ranks nationally based on the ratio of the percentage of elected officials of color and the percentage of the population that is of color

State's Performance

Points added to score

Ratio of representation is equal to or greater than 1

0 points

Among states ranked 3–5

1 points

Among states ranked 6-10

2 points

Among states ranked 11-15

3 points

Among states ranked 16-20

4 points

Among states ranked 21-25

5 points

Among states ranked 26-30

6 points

Among states ranked 31-35

7 points

Among states ranked 36-40

8 points

Among states ranked 41-45

9 points

Among states ranked 46-51

10 points

Influence Factors:

Campaign contribution limits:

Laws governing how much a statewide and/or a gubernatorial candidate can raise for his/her campaign(s)

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

SState law limits campaign contributions to under the current presidential campaign limit, $5,400, in one election cycle

0 points

State law limits campaign contributions to between $5,401 and $9,999, in one election cycle

2.5 points

State law limits campaign contributions to between $10,000 and $24,999, in one election cycle

5 points

State law limits campaign contributions, but is above $25,000 in one election cycle

7.5 points

State law allows for unlimited campaign contributions

10 points

Availability of public campaign financing:

Laws that offer a public financing program for elections

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

State law offers at least some form of partial or full public financing program in all or some elections

0 points

State has no laws offering public financing program

10 points

Campaign disclosure laws:

Where a state ranks nationally based on National Institute of Money in State Politics, "Essential Disclosure Requirements for Independent Spending"

State's Performance

Points added to score

For state ranked 1

0 points

Among states ranked 2–5

1 points

Among states ranked 6-10

2 points

Among states ranked 11-15

3 points

Among states ranked 16-20

4 points

Among states ranked 21-25

5 points

Among states ranked 26-30

6 points

Among states ranked 31-35

7 points

Among states ranked 36-40

8 points

Among states ranked 41-45

9 points

Among states ranked 46-51

10 points

Revolving door bans:

Laws that require a cooling off period before former public officials can work as lobbyists

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

State law requires a cooling off period of at least two years

0 points

State law requires a cooling off period of one to two years, or at least until the end of the next regular legislative session

5 points

State law requires a cooling off period of less than one year

10 points

Transparency in legislative data:

Where a state grades nationally based on Sunlight Foundation's scorecard, "Open Legislative Data Report Card"

Current Policy in State

Points added to score

State graded with an "A"

0 points

State graded with an "B"

2.5 points

State graded with an "C"

5 points

State graded with an "D"

7.5 points

State graded with an "F"

10 points

Judicial recusal laws:

Where a state ranks nationally based on CAP study, “State Judicial Ethics Rules Fail to Address Flood of Campaign Cash from Lawyers and Litigants”